This was the first album for the 1001 albums project. My aim is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, since I have stopped actively listening to anything for a long time now.
When Franz Ferdinand popped up, I was flooded with nostalgia. I remember stealing my dad’s copy of the album a few years after it released and listening to it on my portable CD player on the 3-hour drives we took to visit relatives.
On relistening to the album, it’s still great. I love the visual language of some of the lyrics and find them simple, sometimes poetic, and always punchy. The guitars have this biting, bouncy energy that creates this rising momentum and are a great contrast for the softer moments.
Favourite song: The Dark of the Matinée
Least favourite Song: None
I never listened to much of Bob Dylan outside his greatest hits and a few documentaries about 60’s music, so it was nice listening to a few more songs.
This album felt like a journey through seasons, from a hazy dappled summer afternoon to a cold and smoky winter morning. I especially loved the harmonica parts and steel of the guitar strings.
Dylan has always had a beautiful way of using metaphor and simile to create these surreal and striking narratives and some of the songs on the album exemplify this really well.
Favourite song: Mr. Tambourine Man
Least favourite song: None
It was a nice low energy album From R.E.M. I always saw them as a cynical band that talked about the anxieties, fear and anger of corruption and corporate greed in a dusty suburban backdrop.
The album has some of their more famous songs, like Stand and Orange Crush, but I was surprised by the acoustic songs. They were easily my favourite part of the album. They often felt like little domestic dioramas with this overbearing vulnerability and little glints of wonder in them.
The lyrics often feel personal but aren’t above being a little silly and not taking themselves too seriously.
Favourite song: You Are the Everything
Least favourite song: None
I know that there is going to be a decent number of Beatles on this list, but I wasn’t expecting to get one for number 4. It’s hard to escape hearing the Beatles if you actively listen to music, either through their songs or who they have gone on to influence, so most people go in with a lot of preconceived notions, including myself.
I watched A Hard Day’s night movie one night with my dad and unfortunately, I was not a fan. I’m assuming that the Monkees TV show was a rip-off of the movie, but I feel they pulled the concept off better, possibly because of the artificial nature of the band. This has probably contributed to me to not like this period of the Beatles that much.
There are one or two timeless songs on this album and if I was just rating on the dance hall beats the album would be rated higher, but I am not a fan of the lyrics at all. It could be because they are of their time or because I’m not really into love songs, but they did nothing for me.
Favourite song: A Hard Day’s night
Least favourite song: None
The First album I wasn’t familiar with at number 5. Siouxsie and the Banshees clearly have had a huge influence on the kind of music I listened to as a teenager, and listening to Juju warmed my little emo, alt rock heart.
The ropey bass weaves through the album and I love the little plucks of sound distortion within some of the songs. Siouxsie has an amazing voice, and I love her vocal range from hypnotic lull to vicious scream. The lyrics can feel like a ritual chant, and I love the spookiness of some of the songs.
This is probably the first band on the list that I will follow up on.
Favorite song: Head Cut
Least favorite song: none
I was not expecting my first 5 star to be a Neil Young and Crazy Horse album. Young is an incredible guitarist and song writer and was one of the many artists my dad would have playing in the house while I was growing up.
This album feels like sitting at a crossroads after long day’s walk. Night has fallen and the wind has an autumn chill to it but is kept at bay by a small campfire. You are sheltered beneath a sky of stars, tired but ready for tomorrow.
The narratives and prose of the songs are beautiful and poignant. I also like how tongue and cheek Young can be. I love the little clicks and plucks of the guitar strings and anytime a harmonica is playing.
Favourite song: Thrasher
Least favourite song: None
I have never heard of this band before and at number .7 and it was the first album I really struggled with.
A lot of the music arrangements were good; it had a 60’s pop feel with a little 90’s mess but I found the songs difficult to digest. I’m going to be generous and assume that all the lyrics are satirical, but I feel if it’s hard to differentiate satire from genuine sentiment then it’s just perpetuating the thing it wants to mock.
Apparently, a one of the band members wrote “My Lovely Horse” from Father Ted, so make of that what you will.
Favourite song: The Dogs & the Horses
Least favourite song: None
